3-gatsu no Lion oozes love and radiates warmth. More than just being full of those things, it is about letting that warmth in and the futility of trying to tough it out alone. It spits in the face of the idea that one needs to have their act together on their own before coming together with others or that deep underlying problems need to be tackled alone. Ever get that advice that says you need to sort out your own issues in order to properly love others...that if you're not secure in yourself, you'll only be pushing your baggage on other people? That is the number one thing that this anime rails against, and that's to be fuckin' applauded. Pain is to be distributed and shouldered by others. Finding community where you can, be that in family, friends, competition, or anywhere else is the healing process. This is an aspect of life that's hard to accept when you're falling down, made even harder when you're told otherwise. Having a piece with the power this series does reinforce that is deeply comforting and reassuring. It's always okay to sit under the kotatsu. Eat, be warm, let yourself love and be loved. That's where happiness and healing lie, where all the best parts of life are. That's the emotional core of this show and these characters, and it's all brilliant. It's food for the heart.

The shogi is also wonderfully put on display, with much more attention given than one might expect, given that it's never really talked about as a great show about competition. There's clearly a great love on display for losing oneself in an interest or in a competitive scene, and while I never reached the level of competition that Rei does in anything, it certainly feels true to the feels associated with communal improvement, stagnation, pressure, self-doubt, etc. Nothing is an afterthought in 3-gatsu no Lion, everything feels like it has a distinct purpose. Any aspect of it that you take interest in will be rewarding.

I'm less interested in the aesthetic qualities of this show, but it's worth mentioning that this is also masterful in that sense. It's the SHAFTiest thing you'll ever see, with the best match for that style since...I don't know, maybe Hidamari Sketch? The swings between all-consuming depression and exuberant joy are convincing and natural as a result. The lows make the highs higher and the reverse is also true. It's always a visual treat even when not being flashy. The character designs pop and are unique without being too out-there. The voice cast, particularly with the sisters, is the best since K-On! Every facet of this production is air-tight and beautiful.

My complaints are minimal. There's a few gags that fall flat, most notably the cats freaking out over food. It's hard to really think about that with how refreshing everything else about this show is.

If only I watched this in 2016, the worst year of my life, I might have met that warmth when I needed it. Please don't repeat my mistake.